Cow-tail holder.



J. L. KUNKLE.

COW TAIL HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.10,1913. 1,1 31,527.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

luvemo'a HE NORRIS PETERS 6a.. PHOTD-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, D. C.

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JOHN LOUIS KUNKLE, OF MGCOYSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

COW-TAIL HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Application filed September 10, 1913. Serial No. 789,102.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. KUNKLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mo- Coysville, in the county of J uniata and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in COW-TailHolders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cow tail holders and hasparticular reference to that class of devices wherein one end of thedevice is clamped around the tail and the opposite end to the hind legof the animal, so as to prevent movement of the tail during theoperation of milking.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a deviceof the above mentioned character wherein the clamping jaws may beindependently or simultaneously moved to open position, andautomatically locked when moved to closed position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a reversible holder,either end of which may be clamped around the tail or to the leg of theanimal, thus facilitating the application of the device.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of theclass in question which is simple in construction, cheaply manufacturedand positive in its operation.

lVith these and other objects in view which will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the invention consists in thespecific construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing forming a portion of this specification and in which likenumerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views:Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device showing the jaws partlyopened. Fig. 2 is a top edge view showing the-jaws locked in closedposition. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the jaws. Fig. iis a detail perspective view of the main body portion of the device.Fig. 5 is a view showing the lower stationary jaws in section and theupper jaws in elevation. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line i4e ofFig. 2. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the manner of moving the upperjaws out of engagement with each other to permit of their opening.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 1 indicates the main body portionof the device, which is constructed from any suitable yieldable materialpreferably resilient metal for the purpose which will hereinafter bedescribed. The lower rail 2 of the frame is longitudinally slotted as at3 for the major portion of its length, and terminates in forwardlycurved portions forming stationary jaws 4; which cooperate with themovable jaws 5. Rising centrally from the opposite sides of the rail 2and formed integrally therewith are spaced pivot ears 6 and 7 betweenwhich the movable jaws 5 are pivoted. The opposite side edges of theears are formed with shoulders 8 to provide a stop for limiting themovement of said movable jaws in one direction in a manner hereinaftermore fully described.

The movable jaws 5 have their free ends curved downwardly for engagementwith the stationary jaws 4L, and are integrally connected with pivotlugs 10 which extend 'earwardly of and downwardly from said jaws andarranged in overlapping engagement between the pivot ears 6 and 7. Theouter side of each lug 10 is formed adjacent its upper edge with a stud11 by means of which the jaws 5 are mounted in an opening 12 in the ears6 and 7 for pivotal movement. The inner surface of each of the lugs areformed with oppositely disposed locking shoulders 13 an l 13 adapted forlocking engagement with each other for the purpose of retaining the saidmovable jaws 5 locked in closed position. By reason of the fact that thesaid ears 6 and 7 are constructed from resilient material, the shoulders13 and 13 are normally held in looking engagement by the inherentyieldableness of the said ears, or in other words the tendency of theupper portion of the ears to approach each other. The pivot lugs 10 aretapered downwardly so that the lower portions thereof are normallyspaced to provide a leverage whereby the said portions are adapted to bemoved toward each other thus forcing the upper portion and the lockingshoulders 13 and 18 outwardly and out ofengagement with each otheragainst the tension of the said ears to permit the aws 5 to ,beindependently or simultaneously movedto open position, the said jaws as1s obvious being also held in open position under tension of the saidears 6 and 7. The lower edge of the said ears are cut away as at 14- topermit the lower portions of the lugs 1.0 to be engagedby the thumb andfinger of the operator whereby the necessary inward pressure may beapplied to the lugs to permit opening of the jaws as herein-.abovedescribed. The said jaws 5 at their pointof juncture with the lug10 are formed with shoulders 15 the lower edges of which are adapted toengage the shoulder S to limit the closing movement of the aws.

From-the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing itl,Vl.1l be manifest that I have provided a device of the classin question, by reason of the fact that it is reversible and may beeasily and'qui'ckly applied to the animal and automatically locked inposition thereon. And while I have herein illustrated the preferred formof my invention, it is to be understood that I am not to be limited tothe precise structure herein shown and described as various changes maybe made within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1.,A reversible cow tail holder compris- 35, ing aframeformed with oppositely disposed stationary jaws, a pair of jawspivoted in said frame and movable toward and away from said stationaryjaws, and means formed on said movable jaws and cooperat- "ing tosimultaneously lock said jaws in closed position.

2. A cow tail holder comprising a frame having-oppositely disposedstationary jaws and spaced-resilient ears, a pair of oppositely movablejaws pivoted between said ears, means for opening said jaws againsttension of the ears, and means for automatically locking said jaws underthe tension of the ears.

3: A cow tail holdercomprisinga frame having-oppositely disposedstationary jaws and spaced resilient ears,'a pair of oppositely movablecooperating jaws pivoted between said ears, means formed on said movable jaws for moving the latter to open position against the tension ofsaid ears and locking means on the first mentioned means for retainingsaid jaws closed under the tension of said ears.

4. A cow tail holder comprising a frame formed with oppositely disposedstationary jaws and spaced resilient upstanding ears disposed betweensaid j aws, a pair of cooperating movable jaws pivoted between said 5cars, and means for automatically locking said movable jaws closed underthe tension of said ears.

5. A cow tail holder comprising a frame formed with oppositely disposedstationary jaws and spaced resilient upstanding ears disposed betweensaid jaws, a pair of movable jaws having pivot lugs arranged inoverlapping engagement and pivoted between said ears, and means formedon said lugs for automatically locking said jaws closed under tension ofsaid ears;

6. A cow tail holder comprising a frame formed with oppositely disposedstationary jaws and spaced resilient upstanding ears disposed betweensaidjaws, a pair of movable jaws having pivot lugs arranged inoverlapping engagement and pivoted between said ears, means formed onsaid lugs for automatically lockingsaid jaws closed under tension oftheears, and said lugs providing means for releasing said locking means.

7. A cow tail holder comprising a frame formed with oppositely disposedstationary jaws and spaced resilient upstanding ears disposed betweensaid jaws, a pair of movable jaws having pivot lugs arranged inoverlapping engagement and pivoted between said ears, the adjacent facesof said lugs being formed with shoulders for locking engagement when thejaws are closed, said ears retaining said. shoulders operativelyassociated, and means for moving the shoulders out ofengagement'againstthe tension of said ears.

8. A cow tail holder comprising a frame formed with oppositely disposedstationary jaws and: spaced upstanding ears disposed between said jaws,a pair of movable jaws pivoted betweensaid ears, and the opposite edgesof said ears being provided with shoulders for engagement with saidmovable jaws in closed position.

9. A cow tail holder comprising a frame having oppositely disposedstationary jaws and, spaced upstanding ears arranged between saidjaws,movable jaws formed with pivot lugs pivoted between said ears, theadjacent-faces of said lugs being formedwith shoulders for lockingengagement when the jaws are closed, said ears retaining. said shouldersoperatively associated, and the lower portion of said lugs being spacedand adapted to be moved towardv each other for moving the shoulders outof enga ement against the tension of said ears as described.

10. A cow tail holder comprising a resilient frame formed withoppositely disposed stationary jaws, a pair of cooperating movable jawshaving pivot lugs pivoted in said frame, said jaws being held in closedposition under the tension of said frame, and said lugs providing meansfor opening said jaws against the tension ofsaid frame.

11; A cow tail holder comprising a resilient frame formed withoppositely disagainst the tension of said frame to permit posedstationary jaws, apair of cooperating said jaws to be moved to openposition. 10 movable jaws having pivot lugs pivoted in In testimonywhereof I aflix my signature said frame and arranged in overlapping eninpresence of two Witnesses.

gagement, said jaws being held closed under JOHN LOUIS KUNKLE. thetension of the frame and said lugs hav- Witnesses:

ing their lower portions normally spaced E. H. HOFFMAN,

and adapted to be moved toward each other S. M. PALM.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, .D. 0.

